I think for the pos / neg system, you should have to write at least a 50 character explanation as to why you are posing / negging the review, and it needs to be made so that only the person who wrote the review can see the explanation, this way, they'll know how to improve and such. Also, this way, if someone decides to troll neg, they can copy / paste the troll neg explanation to the mods and have it removed.

This has been suggested a number of times over the years and has been shot down every time for a number of reasons. First, the pos/neg system really isn't worth the trouble of extra coding. Second, as zepdude pointed out, if you require an explanation, then that explanation will just be a bunch of gibberish or swear words. Sure, it could be reported and purged, but that also creates extra work for the moderators besides myself who actually do things. Third, people simply need to do their best to ignore whether negative votes were cast by trolls or not and focus on improving their writing. If you want feedback or proofreading, there is a thread for that in this very forum. Don't put stock in the pos/neg system if you think it's broken or stupid. Just ignore it and seek out legitimate advice. You can find it if you want to.

Saw a comment in the facebook thread concerning the pos/neg system about having only negs and no pos function. While that idea obviously won't work, what about this:

Allow users to pos only and, in lieu of the pos to neg ratio, count the pos numbers like a score (if we must have a system). That way, if anyone wants to provide negative feedback, they'll at least have to post "gay" instead of just clicking a button that they think means it.

Saw a comment in the facebook thread concerning the pos/neg system about having only negs and no pos function.

What does it take around here to get people to recognise sarcasm?

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Allow users to pos only and, in lieu of the pos to neg ratio, count the pos numbers like a score (if we must have a system). That way, if anyone wants to provide negative feedback, they'll at least have to post "gay" instead of just clicking a button that they think means it.

This idea is, in fact, no better than having just negs. I'd argue that the majority of pos votes are of the "just because we're buddies" or "I didn't read it, but, eh, you're a decent user" varieties. Therefore, there is arguably more abuse of the pos count than the neg count. Of course my evidence is weak, and is merely conjecture, but really... you either have both, or you have nothing at all.

Of course it was sarcasm (never said it wasn't), I just thought I could pull a constructive idea from it. C'mon, man.

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This idea is, in fact, no better than having just negs. I'd argue that the majority of pos votes are of the "just because we're buddies" or "I didn't read it, but, eh, you're a decent user" varieties. Therefore, there is arguably more abuse of the pos count than the neg count. Of course my evidence is weak, and is merely conjecture, but really... you either have both, or you have nothing at all.

I mean, if you really care about the pos count, you're probably the same kind of person that currently cares about the pos to neg ratio. Neither would particularly mean anything, this would just get rid of the troll negs and butthurt feelings and force those with negative feedback to voice it, while leaving the option of an "I like you" button that boosts the ego for those that feel they need it.

Not that I really give a damn about this, but lots of people seem to and it's a thought.

Skeletor/Exhorder/100otherusernames is back and is spamming comments on dozens of albums all at once. I don't know if there's a rule against it, but the whole main page is filled with his new alt NOTHINGLEFT commenting on a shitload of albums.

Anyways, he was banned by Dev recently so I think he should be taken care of: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/profile.php?name=NOTHINGLEFT